Apparatus for washing dishes



Jan. 7, 1941. E, J, DWYER I APPARATUS FOR WASHING DISHES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed on. 20, 1928 I Inve nlor [emu/v0 J DWYER zf 45M Altor ney Jim. 7, 19.41.

E. J. DWYER 2,228,205

APPARATUS FOR WASHING DISHES Filed Odt. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet'ii By W/M A llorney Patented Jan. 7, 194i 7 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR WASHING DISHES Edmund J. Dwyer, Holyoke, Mass" assignor to American Blshwashing Co. Inc Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 20, 1928, Serial No. 313,905

11 Claims.

My invention relates to dish washing and comprises broadly a novelapparatus for doing such work. Many of the advantages of my invention are particularly valuable in connection with washing glasses.

One of the objects of the invention is to spray the dishes to be washed from a supply of fresh water. In a similar manner it is one of the objects of the invention to drain away all water 0 immediately after it has been used so that there will be no dirty water left in the machine or any part thereof and much less will there be any suc water used for: washing;

. It is a further object of the invention to provide simple, inexpensive and reliable spraying means. More specifically it is intended that such means will require no other source of power for operation than that obtained from the pressure of the water supplied for the washing operation.

. Still more specifically it is one of the objects of the invention to utilize a rotary spraying device similar to the automatic rotary spraying devices used for sprinkling water on lawns and gardens.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for discontinuing the flow ofwater after a predetermined amount of operation.. With the type of rotary spraying device hereinbefore mentioned which is operated byv the pressure of the water, the rotation of the spraying device is discontinued at the same time.

With such an arrangement one of the advantages of draining away all used water immediately is that the heat of the water will warm the compartment in which the dishes are placed and 5 then, when the flow has ceased and the water has-drained away, the heated compartment will rapidly drythe dishes.

It is also one of the objects of the invention to provide a certain amount of liquid soap or cleansing solution or both with the water during the first part of the spraying operation and to use. only fresh water during the last or rinsing part of the operation.

,I have found some materials superior to others 45 for cleansing and one of the objects of the invention is to secure the superior cleansing results which can only be obtained by the use of a a certain class of cleansing materials.

These and other objects oi the invention will more clearly appear from a consideration of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwashing machinein which are embodied certain structural features of my invention:

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of; one form of valve used for automatically shutting off the supply of water; V

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of 00 Valve;

Fig. 4 is a plan viewof the lower ing device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-4 of Fig. 4; and

1 Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the soap valve and cam taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 the reference character ll indicates a compartment in which the dishes to be washed may be placed. At the front of this compartment is shown a door I! arranged to slide verticallyin guides It provided at the sides of the opening to the compartment Ii. At [4 there may be provided rails for the support of a tray l5 upon which dishes are placed. The tray I5 is adapted to slide into and out of the compartmerit II on therails H so that the dishes may be placed on and taken oh the tray l5 outside of the compartment where they may be more easily handled. A number of glasses l6 are shown on the tray IS in position to be washed.

At substantially the central portion of the up-- per wall of the compartment II apipe I1 is carried therethrough and is provided with a rotary spraying device l8 adapted to rotate as indicated by the arrow A under the force of the water passing out of the orifices IS in the direction indicated by thearrow B. Another pipe 20 passes through substantially the central portion of the rotary spraylower 'wall of the compartment II and hasmounted thereon a second spraying device 2| with orifices 22 for the discharge of the water. The directions of the lower spray device 2! are opposite to those of the upper spray device l8, that is, the rotation is in the direction indicated by the arrow!) under the action of the stream of discharging waterflowing in the direction indicated by the arrow D. It will be understood that the orifices in the upper spray device it serve two purposes in that they rotate the spray device and also direct'the water downwardly so as to spray the glasses. In a similar manner the orifices of the lower spray device 2i serve two purposes in that they rotate it and also direct the 'water upwardly to spray the inside of the glasses. In general, it is desirable that the lower spray device rotate rather slowly as this gives the streams of water an opportunity to force the dirt from the surface. The tendency of rapid rotation is to so dissipate the energy of the streams of water that the resulting spray is more like a mist. On the other hand, the upper spray, when used primarily for rinsing, as in the case of glasses, may rotate much more rapidly as the force of the water is not depended upon for removing the dirt.

The details of construction of the lower spray device, for example, may be as shown in Figs. "(and 5. A bushing 23 is provided with an inwardly extending bearing flange, which flange has an aperture 25 therein through which a 7 40 other orifices.

fitting 26 may pass. The fitting 26 has a retaining hub 21 and is screwed into a hexagonal coupling 28 which unites it with the pipe 20. The

fitting 28 is provided with a plurality of holes 26a for the passage of the water therethrough. A cap 29, having a plurality of orifices 290 at the top thereof. is provided at its sides with threaded openings 30. The cap 29 is screwed into the bushing 23 and provides therewith a water chamber 3|. A plurality of arms 32, 33 and 34 of pipe or tubing are threaded into the openings 30. To obtain the best results some care should be employed in the positioning of the orifices 22. As shown in Fig. 4, the arm 3a is provided with one orifice only, 22a, somewhat larger than the other orifices. water fiows out in a direction that is partly upward and partly horizontal. Due to the hori- 1 zontal direction the moving part of the spray device comprising the bushing 23, the cap 29,

and the arms 32, 33 and 34 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow C. Due to the upward direction this stream also washes the glasses which are in the outermost positions. The a arm as is provided with orifices 221) which are arranged in three groups and all discharge the water in a vertical direction and therefore do not contribute to the rotation of the spray device but are useful solely for washing purposes. It will so be noticed that the circular paths described by the orifices 22b are smaller in diameter than the circular path described by the orifice 22a and they do not therefore duplicate any of the work performed by the orifice 22a. The arm 32 is 35 provided with two groups of orifices 22c which describe circular paths intermediate the paths described by the orifices in the other arms and therefore the streams of water from these orifices strike the glasses at difierenteplaces than the The specific arrangement of the orifices in the different arms as shown in this specificembodiment of my invention has been.

described somewhat in detail but it is obvious that other combinations and arrangements might also be employed. v I

The upper pipe I! and the lower pipe 20 are connected together at a T 43 which is supplied by-a pipe 44 through which the fiow of water is controlled by means of an automatic valve 45.- 5 This valve will be described more in detail hereinafter but for the present it is sufiicient to state that the valve is opened manually by means of a handle 48 and after the handleis released water will continue to flow through the valve until after a certain amount of operation the valve.

set forth are not essential for fairly satisfactoryv results- In using more water or in operating the j valve for a longer period both water and time F 'will be used unnecessarily and wasted. In using "the valve for a shorter period of time and using less water-there ismore likelihood of the glasses- 7 or other dishes'not being thoroughly cleaned. The

different factors governing the ideal length of operation and amount of water required are subi fto'so'muchvariatlon that th above figures can at best be nomore thanapproximations.

I 76 Provision may be made for the introduction of g l This orifice is so positioned that the soap and cleansing material into the pipe 20 at 41 through a pipe 44 having a check valve as indicated at 49 which prevents the water from flowing from the pipe-24 into the pipe 48 but permits the soap to fiow from the pipe 48 into 5 the pipe 20. Liquid soap may be supplied from a container 50. A suitable valve at ii may be arranged to be operated by a cam 52a (Fig. 6) on an extension 52 of the handle 44 which opens the automatic valve 45. r 10 The bottom of the compartment II is preferably given a pitch toward a pipe 53 which carries away the water immediately after it reaches the bottom 'of the compartment after being sprayed against the glasses. 15

In opera ion the glasses or other dishes are placed on t e tray 55 and the tray is pushed .into the compartment ii on the rails [4. The

door if is then closed and the valve opened by means of the handle 46., At this time there 20 is a charge of liquid soap and cleansing material in the pipe 20 which is trapped therein at the lower portion of the pipe. The liquid soap is trapped therein from the prior operation of the device in a manner which will be presently ex- 25.

plained. The water from the valve 45 passes through the T 43 and then divides, part of it discharging through the upper spray device I4 and part of it passing through the pipe 20 carrying the soap before it' into and out of the rotary s0 spray device 2|. After a relatively short period, possibly five seconds, the liquid soap and cleansing material has all beencarried through the spray and the subsequent operation is a rinsing 011B.

With the opening of the valve 45 and the beginning of the flow of water through the pipe 20 the pressure of the water closes the check valve 49. The check valve is continuously held closed by the pressure of the water until the automatic 4" valve 45 shuts off the supply. During the operaand is there in position when the water is ad'mit-v ted for the next operation. g

In'the above described operation it is to be noted that only fresh water is sprayed against 55 the glasses and the water. is then immediately drained away from the machine without being used again. This method is in marked contrast to that of other machines now on the. market, which all, as far as Iknow, use the same water 60 over and over. The advantages of my method of operation are very great fnun a sanitary j standpoint. There are many places where such sanitary washing is quite important, for example, at soda fountains, where the glasses actually 5 touch the lips of the user. In fact where the water is hot enough the glasses or dishes are actually sterilized.

It is obvious that the-soap may be led into the pipe .44 which is the commonsupplyto both (0 spray devices instead of into the pipe I]. In case such a connection is used there should be a trap' for holding the supply of soap ivalent to the trap portion of the pipe 24. The advantage of such an arrangement is that the soap ins supplied to the upper spray device as well as to the lower one. In some cases such an arrangement would be desirable. But in the case of lasses used at soda fountains or where soft 5 drinks are dispensed most of .the dirt to be removed is on the inside of the glasses and there is very little need of soap for the upper spray device and the arrangement shown in Fig. l is Just as satisfactory.

' I have also found that certain ingredients in the soap or cleansing solution give superior results. If a considerable quantity of ordinary soap is mixed with the water suds are formed and the suds have insufficient body to satisfactorily clean dirty dishes. On the other hand most dirty dishes have a certain amount of grease or fatty substances thereon which is one of the ingredients from which soap is made. Caustic soda and caustic potash are each used for making soapdishes which can best be removed with a little soap and more particularly glasses will not dry clear with nothing but the bicarbonate of soda in the water. The following theory of operation is not intended to define or limit the invention but is merely set forth by way of explanation. When only bicarbonate of soda is used the glasses are perfectly clear and quite satisfactory if dried by hand. If they are permitted to dry by themselves a sort of bubble is formed and dries, leaving a spot or rather several spots on the glass 40 so that it appears dirty and spotted. If a small quantity of liquid soap is added to the solution there is a tendency for the drops to run off and leave the glass clear. I have found that some types of liquid soap when sprayed against the glasses with hot water leave a blue glaze on the glass which is very difilcult or almost impossible to remove. I have found that a small amount of soap tree bark in the water will permit the glases todry without spots and without an unf-fi deslra'bleglaze.

While I do not wish to confine myself to exact "proportions, I have Found that a satisfactory cleansing solution may comprise four ounces of bicarbonate of soda. in two quarts of water to-" u gether with one-quarter ounce of soap tree bark. The soap tree bark may be steeped in the water or hot water may be merely added to it and allowed to stand. It is to be understood that the undissolved soap tree bark is removed by deso cantation or filtering. In comparing the relative values, for the purposes for which they are selected, of the materials hereinbefore mentioned for changing grease to soap, the caustic soda is perhaps the most eflioacious and the bicarbonate of soda the least harsh on the hands. Other alkalies may be substituted for soda such as potash, ammonia and lime; and other salts of soda or salts of otheralkalles may also be used such as'trl-sodium phosphate and borax or sodium borate. In general all alkalies or substances of an alkali nature may be said to be the equivalent of the substances s'pecifically mentioned.

The detailed construction of one form of automatic valve may best be understood by reference to 2. A cylindrical casing 6| may be provided with an opening 62 at its upper end for the passage thereinto of water from some suitable source of supply and may be provided at its lower portion with an opening 63 for the out- 6 ward passage of the water. Near the middle portion of the casing 6! there is rigidly held in place a disc 64 which has openings 65 provided therein which serve as guides for rods 66 attached to the moving portion of the valve. The disc 10 64' also has' a plurality of openings 64a which permits the water to flow freely at all times from one side of the disc to the other. Secured to the disc 64 or integral therewith is a cylinderlil in which a governor 68, which also may be of cylinl5 drlcal form, is adapted to slide, the relative diameters being such that there is a small clearance between the governor 68 and the cylinder 61. The purpose of this clearance is to permit the water to move out of the cylinder 61 around the 2c 7 governor 68 at a slow rate only and thus to act as a hydraulic governing deviceto regulate the speed of the movement. The governor 68 is secured to a governor rod 69 in any suitable manner which governor rod is threaded in a 25 flange H1 which is secured to the guide rods 66. An ear or bracket extends from the wall of the casing 6| and is provided with an opening I2 through which the governor rod 69' passes and which serves as a guide therefor. A valve disc 30 I3 is secured to the lower ends of the rods 66 and moves therewith. An annular valve face 1-4 on the valve disc 13 cooperates with a valve seat 15 in the casing 6|. A cylindrical member 16 depends from the valve disc 13 and fits in the 35 opening 63 and serves to guide the moving parts in their reciprocation. The member 16 may be provided with openings TI to permit the water to flow readily into the opening 63. At the upper portion of the moving part of the valve an oper- 40 ating disc l8rnay be provided which threads over the governor rod 69 and acts as a locknut to hold the flange 10 in its adjusted position and also provides means for the operation of the valve. The upward movement of the disc I8 and 45 I end thereof for engagement with the disc I8. A 5o spring 83 returns the handle to its inoperative position after it has been released by the operator. A check valve is provided for the lower end of the cylinder 61 which may comprise a ball 84 resting on a. seat 85 at the upper end of an 55 opening 86. A suitable cage 81 may be provided to prevent the ball from moving away from its position when it is lifted by the water from its seat.

The operationof the valve 46 is as follows. so The operator turns the handle 66 and thus lifts the cam 62 and moves the disc 78 upwardly. This lifts the valve disc 13 from its seat and also draws the governor 66 to the upper end of the cylinder 61. The handle 46 is then released and -The rapidity of this movement is governed by the throttling action exercised on the water in passing through the passage between the cylinder 61 and the governor 68. It is to be noticed that in the downward movement of the governor the ball 94 closes the opening 86 and no water passes through at this opening. The length of opera: tion of the valve may be regulated by adjusting the position of the governor 68 on the rod 69. After the valve face rests on the valve seat 715 the water ceases to fiow until the valve is again put into operation manually by the movement of the handle 46.

A somewhat diiferent type of valve is shown in Fig. 3. A cylindrical casing 9i has a valve seat 92 in its lower portion. A movable valve member carries a packing 93 at its lower portion which cooperates with the seat 92 and at its upper portion is provided with a disc 94 which divides the cylinder 9i into two chambers 95 and 99. An opening 91 provides for the admission of the water into the lower chamber 95 and another opening or discharge passage 98 carries the water away when the valve has opened at the seat 92. An. auxiliary passage 99 may be provided which at its lower end is connected with the passage 98 and at its upper end is separated from the upper chamber 96 by a pilot valve I00. A handle IOI may be provided for the operation of the pilot valve I and serves to open the pilot valve when moved in any direction. Springs I02 and I03 are used to restore the valve I00 to its seat after the handle IOI'is released. A by-pass I04 may be provided in the disc 94 to permit the water to flow at a very slow rate from the lower chamber 95 into the upper chamber 96 when a difference in pressure exists therebetween.

The operationof the modified form of valve shown in Fig. 3 is as follows. It will be assumed that the valve at 92 has been closed for some time and the water pressures in the upper chamber 96 and the lower chamber 95 are therefore the same. The handle IN is moved and the valve I00 opened which thus permits the water from the upper chamber 99 to flow through the auxiliary passage 99- into the passage 98. The pressure of the water in the chamber 95.wil1 then lift the disc 94 and open the valve at 92. After the pilot valve I00 is permitted to close the'water will continue to flow through the main valve at 92 and also slowly through the by-pass I04 into the upper chamber 99. As thechamber 99 again fills with' water the disc 94 together with the movable portion of the valve is slowly forced downward and the main valve is-closed at 92'. \Q

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are for the pur;

portion thereof, a rotary spray device in the lower portion of said compartment, 9. second rotary spray device in the upper portion of said compartment, said devices being adapted to be rotated by water supplied thereto under pressure, pipe connections for each of said devices, a timecontrolled valve for controlling the now of water to said connections of the type adapted to automatically close after a predetermined amount of operation, a source of supply of liquid soap, means including a check valve for conducting a supply of said liquid soap to the pipe connections for said lower spray device, and means operated by said automatic valve for opening said. source of supply to said first-named means to permit a charge of liquid soap to flow toward said check rating means connecting the inlet with the sprayer, a timing valve in thecommunicating;

pipe connections for preventing reverse flow,

therethrough, and means by which one of the valves is adapted to operate the other valve.

3. In a dishwashing machine, a washing compertinent having an outlet, an inlet adapted to be fed with a fluid under pressure, a sprayer disposed in the washing compartment, 9. communi eating means connecting the inlet with the sprayer, a time-controlled valve in the communi-,

eating means of a type adapted to close automatically a predetermined time after it is opened,

a second means connecting with the communicating means for feeding a washing substance thereto periodically, a valve in the secondmentioned means, means by which one 'of the valves is adapted to operate the other valve, and a check valve in the second mentioned means between the 'second mentioned valve and the communicating means.

4. In a dishwashing machine, a washing comleading to the inlet, means connected to said pipe to feed a. washing substance thereto, and means connected to said pipe to supply subsequently the pipe with a washing fluid whereby the combined washing substance and-washing fluid will serve to'wash the dishes and the continued flow of the washing fluid will subsequently rinse the dishes, a valve for the first mentioned means, a valve for the second mentioned means, and means by which one of the valves is adapted to operate the other valve, and means for automatically preventing the reverse flow of said washing substance in saida first-named means when both valves are open the same time.

5. In a dishwashing machine, a washing compartment, an outlet for continuously carrying away the used water, a rotary spray device in said compartment, an inlet connected to said rotary spray device, means for supplying soap to said in-- let, a valve for controlling the supply of soap to said inlet, means for supplying water to 881011111,

let, a second valve for controlling the supply of water to said inlet, means including a single 09-- j v crating handle for openingpbgthvalves simul- 'partment' having an outlet and an inlet, a pipe taneously, and automatic means for closing both valves automatically.

pantment, means for supporting dishes to be washed therein, a rotary spray device positioned so as to spray the dishes on said supporting means and adapted to be rotated by pressure of the water supplied thereto, pipe connections for supplying water under pressure to said spray device, a valve in said connections having manually operable means for opening said valve'and said valve having self-contained automatic means also moved by the pressure of the water to close said valve and discontinue the application of pressure for the rotation of said spray device a predetermined .time after the opening thereof, said automatic means being operable solely by the pressure of the water supplied 'to said valve, valve means for supplying a washing substance in fluid form to said pipe connections and including means for operating the same, and means operated automatically bythe manipulation of the machine for initiating its operation to operate said valve operating means automatically.

'7. In a machine for automatically washing dishes for a predetermined time and then automatically discontinuing the washing operation, in combination with a washing compartment and means for supporting the dishes to be washed therein, a spray device for washing the dishes on said supporting means rotatable by the pressure of the liquid supplied thereto, a timing valve through which said liquid flows to said spray device and operable by the pressure of the liquid supplied thereto for discontinuing said'flow of liquid and the operation of said spray device, connections to a single source of liquid under pressure for operating said timing valve and supplying said spray device, means for introducing a predetermined amount of liquid cleansing substance into the connections to said spray device including a valve and its operating means, and

means automatically operated by the manipulation of said machine to initiate its washing operation for controlling the admission of said cleansing substance to said connections.

8. In a. machine for automatically washing dishes, the combination of a washing compartment, means for. supporting the dishes to be washed therein, means operable by liquid under pressure for ejecting said liquid as a washing fluid in the form of a spray against said dishes and for moving the spraying means and said dish-supporting means relatively, a valve including means as a part thereof directly subjected to the pressure of the liquid flowing through said valve for moving said valve and discontinuing said relative movement and liquid ejection after a predetermined period of time, means for introducing a detergent into the liquid ejected onto the dishes including a valve and its operating means, means automatically operable by the manipulation. of said machine for initiating its operation to operate said valve operating means automatically, and manually operable means for initiating the operation of said machine.

'9. In a machine for automatically washing dishes, the combination of a washing compartment, means for supporting the dishes to, be washed therein, spraying apparatus having means operable by a liquid under. pressure for ejecting said liquid as a washing fluid in the form a of a spray against said dishes and for moving 6. In a dishwashing machine, a washing comthe spraying apparatus and said dish-supporting means relatively, a valve including means as a part thereof directly subjected to the pressure 5 of the liquid flowing through the valve for controlling the iiow of said liquid to said spray apparatus and operated by the pressure of said liquid flowing therethroughfor discontinuing said relative movement and liquid ejection after a predetermined period of time, connections for conveying said liquid to said spraying apparatus, manually operable means for initiating the operation of said machine, means for supplying a liquid detergent'into said liquid connections leading to said spray apparatus including a valve and its operating means, and means automatically operated by the manipulation of said machine for initiating its washing operation to actuate said valve operating means automatically.

10. In a machine'for automatically washing dishes, the combination of a washing compart-' ment, means for supporting the dishes to be washed therein, a spray apparatus mounted for rotation in said compartment and having means operable by a liquid under pressure for ejecting said liquid as a washing fluid,against said dishes and for rotating said spray apparatus relatively to said dish-supporting means, connections for conveying said liquid to said spraying apparatus, a valve including means as a part thereof directly subjected to the pressure of the liquid flowing through said valve and operable to control the flow of said liquid to said spraying ap- I paratus and operated by the pressure of said liquid flowing therethrough for discontinuing said rotary movement and liquid ejection after a predetermined period of time, manually operable means for initiating the operation of said machine, means for supplying a liquid detergent into the connections between said valve and said spraying apparatus and including a valve and its operating means, and means automatically operated by the manipulation of said machine for initiating its washing operation to operate said valve operating means automatically.

11. In a machine for automatically washing dishes, the combination of a washing compartment, means Ior supporting the dishes to be washed therein, spraying apparatus having means operable by liquid under pressure for ejecting said liquid as a, washing fluid in the form of a spray against saiddishes and for moving the spraying apparatus and said dish-supporting means relatively, a valve including means as a part thereof directly subjected to the pressure of the liquid flowing through the valve for controllin the new of said liquid to said spraying apparatus and operated by the pressure of said liquidflowing therethrough for discontinuing said relative movement and liquid ejection chine.

. EDMUND J. DWYER. 

